Homeowners in the Brenham Independent School District will see a slight increase in their taxes this year, even though the tax rate will remain the same.

The Brenham School Board voted unanimously to keep the District’s tax rate at $1.135 per $100 valuation during a noon meeting today (Monday). Although the rate is the same as this past year, homeowners may see a slight increase in their taxes due to rising property values. The average value of a home in BISD increased from $146,000 to $149,000, which would result in the owner paying about $32 more in taxes to the school district this year.

BISD Director of Business and Finance Kim Horne

Director of Business and Finance Kim Horne explained that one cent of the tax rate is being shifted from debt service to maintenance and operations…but the overall rate remains the same. $1.0333 of the tax rate is for maintenance and operations, and .1017 is for debt service. Horne says the District saw about a 4 percent increase in property values, with much of that in mineral value escalation. The tax will fund a $39 million budget for Brenham schools, which is a 3.1% increase over last year’s. A large portion of the budget increase is going to cover the 2.5% pay raise approved for all District employees. Also included in the budget is continued additional security for all of the campuses.

The Brenham School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate on Monday, August 18th at 5:30 p.m. in Brenham High School lecture halls 111 and 113.